The state of Missouri this morning — Oct. 26 — signed an agreement with Hebei provincial officials to increase Missouri exports to the Chinese province by $100 million over the next three years, Gov. Jay Nixon announced.

In a second component of the agreement, officials from Hebei, Missouri’s sister province, will work with the Missouri Department of Economic Development to facilitate an additional $100 million in investment in Missouri by Chinese businesses as well, according to a news release.

Today’s $200 million export and investment agreement with Hebei Province comes on top of the $4.4 billion export agreement Nixon closed with the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade earlier this week as the trade mission he is leading continues. In addition, two Missouri companies — Arcturis, an architectural design firm in St. Louis; and Mediomics, a biomedical research firm in St. Louis — also closed and signed agreements with customers in Hebei this morning.

“When Missouri businesses sell more goods overseas, it creates jobs at home and moves our economy forward,” Nixon stated in the release. “This trade mission is delivering tangible results for Missouri businesses and helping them open new doors in the Chinese market. We’re also laying a solid foundation for continued growth in the years to come.”

The Missouri delegation arrived in Shijiazhuang, the capital of Hebei, on Tuesday evening. This afternoon, the delegation departed for Shanghai.

Before departing Beijing on Tuesday, Gov. Nixon addressed members of the American Chamber of Commerce in Beijing. During his remarks, the Governor highlighted the importance of increasing Missouri exports to China to create jobs at home.

“We want Missouri businesses to sell more of their outstanding goods to Chinese customers, whether they’re selling corn or chemicals, soybeans or steel,” Nixon said in his remarks. “Because we know that when Missouri businesses sell goods here in China, it creates jobs for more people back at home.”

Nixon also stressed the advantages Missouri offers in fields such as agriculture, animal health, transportation and advanced manufacturing in his remarks to the chamber.

“We are world leaders in innovation, technology and advanced manufacturing,” Nixon stated. “That’s why many of America’s largest corporations — from Emerson Electric to Peabody Energy to Boeing, Ford and GM — have invested in our state. And it’s why Missouri is a state where startups and emerging businesses thrive. Many of the businesses in our delegation have expertise in these fields.”

On Thursday, Nixon will meet with The CHINT Group, a solar-manufacturing firm in Hongzhou and close an export and investment agreement with the Zhejiang Provincial Government. On Friday, Nixon will address the American Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai and have other business and governmental meetings.